Last Updated on July 9, 2022 by TODD FRANZEN

Best Water Filters For Bicycling

Cycling has become a pretty big passion. So much so that, it was easy to go down the rabbit hole in order to solve a cycling problem I was having during my rides. You can only carry so much water with you on a ride. And usually, there are no potable water areas to refill.

Due to where I live, mountain biking is the go-to sport. And the trails are located mainly on forest service land, national forest, and open space.

I’m always passing small streams and springs on my rides. There is an abundance of water, but just how safe is it?

My problem was I struggled with how to go about it. In my hip pack, cycling jersey, or on my bike?

Narrowing It Down

The biggest thing for me is obviously weight. But the second one and this might be even more important, is its packability. I don’t enjoy using a backpack as it fatigues me quicker. And because of this, I don’t carry a water blatter. Some of these blatters can carry up to 3 liters of water. That’s almost 6.5 pounds of extra weight.

I’ve been able to cut that weight in half by carrying 2 – 24 oz water bottles. And that includes carrying a water filter. This guarantees me and the friends I ride with, essentially an unlimited amount of water in a day.

Now, I really like the Polar insulated bottles. They fit in a water bottle cage and your drink of choice stays colder, longer. Really any water bottle that will fit in a water bottle cage, on a bike, fits the criteria.

We’ll come back to that…

Ultimately, having an unlimited amount of water on a backcountry journey, no matter how you enjoy it, helps solve a key hydration and survival problem.

The Three Best Portable Filters

Kayden BeFree 1L

The BeFree is a lightweight and compact water filter that’s perfect for backpacking and camping. This filter is unique because it doesn’t require additional hoses or tubes – you simply fill up the reservoir and drink from the integrated spout.

Its size and packability are similar to the Platypus. But a little bit smaller. And with a simple rubber band, it can hold its respective squeeze bags in place.

Katadyn BeFree Specs: 220 Gallons, 0.1 Micron,

The Katadyn Befree’s hollow fiber membrane removes particles down to 0.1 microns, which will remove sediment and most viruses and protozoa that can be found in rivers and creeks throughout the US.

It does beat out the Platypus Quickdraw for flow rate and a larger, more bottle-like cap and filters integrated as one. I got it down to about 3×2.5×4.5 inches in size.

Platypus QuickDraw 1L

The Platypus Quickdraw is a great Squeeze filter system that is compact and pretty efficient. The bag holds 1litre of water with a good size opening to fill. The filter screws onto the top of the squeeze bag and is good for filtering out bacteria and protozoa.

Along with its hollow fiber filters, It also has a small carbon filter that dramatically improves water taste. Its compatibility is unique with its ability to roll up the filter with the blatter. Its packability is probably the best out of the three.

The Platypus does have its drawbacks tho. The flow rate isn’t super high, which means you might be waiting a little longer to fill up your water bottles. Meaning it takes a little more effort.

It also has the smallest fill port in the bunch. Making it take a little longer to fill.

Platypus QuickDraw Specs: 260 Gallon filter life, 0.2 micron filtration

The Platypus QuickDraw Squeeze filter system is a great option for anyone looking for a compact and efficient water filtration system. Its unique compatibility with its ability to roll up the filter with the bladder makes it one of the most packable options on the market. Its real-world measurement is 2x3x6 inches in size.

While its flow rate isn’t super high, this inline filter comes with a hollow tube membrane and a small carbon filter that dramatically improves water taste.

LifeStraw WaterBottle Filter Adapter (Kit)

This was originally my thought on a water bottle filter. Trying to find something to simplify even more, but nothing really fits the bill.

LifeStraw came out with their water bottle filter adapter. This is a universal fit for most large-mouth bottles and comes with three more filter top options. It works with Hydroflask, Nalgene, Klean Kanteen and Camelback Bottles, and more.

Life Straw Specs: 1000 Gallons, 0.2 Micron,

Back to the Polar Water bottles…

The Lifestraw adapter will fit in the 20 and 24-oz bottles. I love the idea and works well in my 24 oz. One complaint is it works better when you are able to squeeze the bottle. When you apply only suction, you just don’t get the flow. Making that big gulp of water a little harder and not as satisfying.

Now LifeStraw does make a squeeze bag filter, The Peak Squeez. However, I wanted to show a different option when it comes to filtration using a traditional water bottle.

But Lifestraw is the “Big Cheese” in the water filter world and is a good option, and probably the easiest to refill. This is probably the best bargain out of the three!

Runner Up

Sawyer Squeeze Filter

The Sawyer Squeeze Filter is a great all-in-one water filtration system that’s perfect for backpacking, camping, and emergency preparedness. The Sawyer Squeeze comes with the equipment to back flush and cleans the filter. Because of this, the Sawyer’s filter can filter up to 100,000 gallons. That’s astonishing!

Now, it’s not my first choice for the cycling application, but it could easily work. Sawyer makes either a sixteen-ounce or one and two-gallon bladder. But there is after-market blatters that can fit the size you’re looking for. They just have a smaller fill opening.

Final Thoughts

All these water filters work very well. You will not go wrong with any of them. For me though, The Katadyn BeFree is my filter of choice when it comes to having clean water while cycling. I like how it works with my setup, the ease of use, as well as its flow rate.

Its small size and unique roll-up design make it perfect for packing in a jersey pocket or bag. And its hollow fiber membrane water filtration removes any sediment, viruses, or protozoa that might be in the water. So no matter where you are cycling, you can be sure that you have clean water to drink.

There are a lot of great water filters on the market. And each has its own set of features that make it unique. All of these are under $50. It really comes down to personal preference and what works best for you.

Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into which personal water filters might be the best for your needs. Check my post about Water Filter Squeeze Bags for other ideas.

Cheers!

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